By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

PACIFIC Oceania’s relegation playoff game against Pakistan in the Asia/Oceania Davis Cup Group 2 tie will take place in Apia, Samoa, according to the Islanders’ non-playing captain Jeff Race.
Race added that the playoffs will be played from April 5 to 7 or from Thursday to Saturday, not the usual Friday to Sunday schedule.
The Islanders-Pakistanis relegation playoff game was arranged after they lost to New Zealand and the Philippines, respectively, in the first round of the tie.
The Kiwis swept the Pacific Oceania team, 5-0, while the Philippines downed Pakistan, 4-1.
The losers in the first round matches needed the relegation playoff game to keep their spot in Group 2.
In the relegation playoff, the Islanders will enjoy a homecourt edge.
But besides getting support from their fellow Islanders, Race is also happy with the choice of venue, as the Pacific Oceania team will be more comfortable with the court in Apia.
“The court in Samoa time will be more suited to the type of game our players are used to,” said Race, who disclosed that his players were not at ease with the court in New Zealand.
The Kiwis-Islanders first round tie was played in an indoor court in Edgar Centre in Dunedin.
The Edgar Centre has timber floor courts, which can be set up to provide 16 indoor tennis courts. The court is rubberized but without too much texture thus the ball runs fast.
“It was simply not a good court for our players,” Race said.
Against Pakistan, Race is hoping that the visitors will play without their No. 1 player anew, to boost the chances of the Islanders.
Qureshi Aisam, who had a 3-2 record in singles and 1-1 slate in doubles in 2006, failed to play in Pakistan’s loss to the Philippines. He was playing in a tournament in Europe when Pakistan played the Philippines. Aisam is the Pakistani with the most wins in the Davis Cup with 33.
Without Aisam, Pakistan entered Asim Shafik, Aqeel, Jalil and Yasir Khan against the RP netters. Only Aqeel won against the Philippines.
When the Islanders face the Pakistanis in April, Race hinted that there might be a slight change in their roster.
Race said that Samoa’s Leon Soonalone might become a part of the team in the relegation playoff.